Autonomous vehicles.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's autonomous vehicle legislation prohibits the delivery of commercial goods by self-driving vehicles without human operators present on California highways, establishing a $25,000 civil fine per violation. The measure requires trained operators who meet federal and state qualifications to remain in autonomous delivery vehicles during operation.

The Department of Motor Vehicles must evaluate autonomous delivery vehicle performance and impacts before permitting driverless operations. By 2031, or five years after testing begins, the DMV will submit a report to the Legislature analyzing safety data, crashes, and employment effects in consultation with multiple agencies. The California Highway Patrol will assess traffic safety, the Labor Agency will examine workforce displacement, Caltrans will review infrastructure needs, and the Air Resources Board will consider alignment with carbon reduction goals. The bill prohibits deployment permits for autonomous delivery vehicles without human operators until after a legislative oversight hearing reviews the findings and subsequent authorizing legislation is enacted.

The measure defines commercial goods as items transported for fees or business purposes that require motor carrier permits. While existing law allows testing of autonomous vehicles with proper permits, this bill specifically addresses commercial delivery operations. The authors cite concerns about algorithmic reliability, worker displacement, and the need to balance innovation with economic stability in the findings section.